A BOSS at Portland Marina has been inspired to become an organ donor after a visit from a sailor who had recovered from leukaemia.

Manager Russ Levett, of the Dean & Reddyhoff marina at Osprey Quay, is calling for more people to sign up to become bone marrow and stem cell donors.

He was inspired to sign up after he met 26-year-old Oliver Rofix on his 2011 sail around Great Britain.

Mr Rofix had a very rare form of leukaemia and was lucky enough to find a match through the Anthony Nolan donor registers that specialise in blood cancers.

The young sailor from Clopton, Suffolk, made a recovery and set sail around the UK in his Valiant 18 boat, called Jolly Olly, raising awareness and understanding about becoming a donor.

At each harbour, Mr Rofix worked hard to raise awareness of his campaign and add to the £3,500 he had already raised for the Anthony Nolan Trust.

Mr Levett said: “When Olly sailed into Portland, we were all impressed by what he was doing on his own on that tiny boat.

“He had made a lot of friends on the way but wasn’t quite getting as many people signed up to the register as he had expected.”

Mr Levett was joined by Ben Lippiett, manager at Dean & Reddyhoff’s Haslar Marina, who also was inspired to join the register.

He added: “We hope that if more of us explain how simple and painless the procedure is then more people stand a chance of getting a match in the future.”

Those over 30 can still become donors through the NHS Choices system, those between 18 and 49 who are in good health can ask their GP or visit blood.co.uk.

Find out more about Mr Rofix’s charity challenge at olivers-travels.co.uk